Armed robbery
The Special Unit Robbery is presently investigating an armed robbery which took place on Monday July 4th at approximately 08.30 a.m. at the Sol Gas Station on the Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard in Point Blanche. The victim/gas-attendant that just left the sales booth on his way to the main office was attacked by two unknown men who arrived on the scene on a motorcycle. The passenger step off of the motorcycle and threatened the victim with a firearm. The victim attempted to flee, but the robber succeeded in robbing him of an undisclosed amount of cash belonging to the business. After committing this act the suspect got back onto the awaiting motorcycle and fled the scene. The victim was not hurt during the robbery. Anyone who may have information regarding this robbery should immediately get in contact with Detective Department by calling 54-22222 ext. 213, 214 or 215. They can also make use of the anonymous tip line which # 9300.
Man stabbed while walking
Detectives are presently investigating a case involving a man that was stabbed while walking on Front Street. The incident took place on Sunday July 3rd at approximately 11.10 p.m. in the vicinity of the taxi-stand on the Cyrus Wathey Square opposite the Court House. According to the victim he was suddenly attacked from behind and stabbed in his right side. The victim also saw an unknown person running away. The victim ran in the direction of the Catholic Church of Front Street where he collapsed on the side walk. A witness who noticed that a knife was still lodged in the victim’s right side notified the police and paramedics. The victim was treated on the scene and then transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for further treatment. At the hospital the victim had to be operated immediately. The victim remains in the Intensive Care Unit for observation and could not give any further statement to the reason for the stabbing.
Police response to allegations of trampling minor’s rights
In connection with the statement made by the attorney at law Sjamira Roseburg in the edition of the Daily Herald of Monday July 4th 2016 regarding the trampling of the rights of a minor, the police department is responding with the following;
The suspect in question is 17 years old and will be 18 next month. He is in custody suspected of being involved in one or more armed robberies where firearms were used. During the police interrogations, the essential question of voluntarily giving saliva to make a DNA profile could not be asked to the suspect. It’s an investigation whereby more suspects are involved and also detained and who have also given samples of their DNA.
In the interest of the ongoing investigation and the community of Sint Maarten at large, the suspect was contacted at “Miss Lali Center” in Cape Bay where he is in detention in connection with this investigation. After being explained what DNA is and how important it is for the investigation and also if he has no involvement with the robberies it can be in his favor. The suspect was then asked if he would voluntarily cooperate in giving saliva in order to make a DNA profile which would be matched with evidence obtained by police during the investigation. The suspect in question said “yes” and a process-verbal was made by the relevant investigating officer who in turn forwarded it to the prosecutor who is handling the case. The contact that was made with the suspect was not an interrogation but a question placed to the suspect to see if he was willing to cooperate.
The prosecutor in turn submitted a request to the judge of instruction who is the competent authority for giving the order to have DNA taken from a suspect. The Judge of instruction found it fit to have the DNA sample taken and issued an order to have such done. The police are in the possession of both the request made by the prosecutor and the order issued by the judge of instruction dated respectively the 27th and 28th of June 2016.
The police department did not trample the rights of this suspect or any other suspect and totally against this type of behavior.